Fresh round of Emmbrook school anger

Another storm has kicked up over the future location of The Emmbrook School.

Angry campaigners have claimed the “secretive” closure of the school is a done deal during a hearing at the public inquiry into Wokingham Borough Council's core strategy.

People from Emmbrook accused the council of already making a decision about the relocation of the school on day six of the examination by a Government inspector.

The core strategy shows where 13,500 homes will be built in the borough, with 3,500 homes planned for Arborfield Garrison, 2,500 homes planned for the south of the M4, 1,500 homes to the north of Wokingham town near Emmbrook and 2,500 homes to the south of Wokingham town.

Last year, getwokingham and The Wokingham Times revealed how the council had stated it will move the school to Arborfield as part of its core strategy.

However the council has yet to consult residents on the proposal, which is a repeat of a failed 2005 plan to move the school to the south of the then-district.

Paul Gallagher, chairman of Emmbrook Residents’ Association, said: “It is abundantly clear that the council is planning to close Emmbrook School.

“This is particularly shameful as the council is very well aware of the extremely strong feelings of this community against the relocation of the school expressed by residents when the move was last mooted just a few years ago.”

At the hearing on the north Wokingham development on Tuesday, March 24, people from Emmbrook reacted with horror when talk turned to the relocation of the school.

Jim Dunning, team leader in the planning department, confirmed the council could move the school and expand St Crispin’s School in London Road to take children from Emmbrook.

Mr Dunning revealed just 19 per cent of The Emmbrook School’s pupils actually live in the village.

Councillor Prue Bray, leader of Wokingham Liberal Democrats, said at the hearing: “There are a number of pupils from Bracknell Forest at St Crispin’s.

“What I imagine we would have to do is stop the intake from Bracknell to fit in the children from Emmbrook.

“This could have a knock-on effect, as we have children from Finchampstead at Edgbarrow in Sandhurst, which is run by Bracknell council.”

Council leader Cllr David Lee told The Wokingham Times no decision has been made, because by law a public consultation has to take place and if people say no to the move, it will not go ahead.

Cllr Lee said: “Once the core strategy is done, we have to look at aspects of education, schools and catchments.

“We then have to put forward a plan and consult on it.

“All sorts of things could have happened by then, for example the Government changing its guidelines.

“Government guidelines at the moment tell us we need eight secondary schools and we have to follow that.

“We also know The Emmbrook School needs to be knocked down, because it is on a floodplain.

“With the plans for 2,500 homes in south Wokingham, logic dictates there needs to be a school there, which there isn’t at the moment.”

After the hearing, Pauline Simpson, chairman of Joel Park Residents’ Association, contacted The Wokingham Times about a question she asked to Sue Roch, from the council’s children’s services department.

She said: “Mrs Roch stated the council will not need to consult on the closure of the school because they are planning to move it out of Emmbrook and relocate it eight-and-a-half kilometres away in Arborfield.

“Well, Mrs Roch, as far as residents of Emmbrook are concerned, that will result in the closure of The Emmbrook School and use of semantics to imply otherwise is not impressive.”